CINCINNATI – Police Chief Eliot Isaac, City Manager Harry Black and Mayor John Cranley will hold a series of community meetings in the New Year to discuss the uptick in shootings and solicit input from citizens about the issue. Reducing shootings and violent crime is one of Mayor Cranley’s top priorities for 2016.

“Although Cincinnati is faring well compared to the crime rates in other large cities, the number of shootings and violent crimes are still unacceptably high,” Mayor Cranley said. “Our citizens deserve a safe city where they can live, work and raise a family.”

Mayor Cranley praised the selection of Eliot Issac as Cincinnati’s next police chief. Although born in Nebraska, Isaac has spent most of his life in Cincinnati and is a strong supporter of the Collaborative Agreement to foster trust between police and the community, the mayor added.

“We’re proud to have one of our own, raised in Cincinnati, to take the helm of the Police Department,” Mayor Cranley said. “I know Chief Isaac is committed to reducing the shootings and violence in our shared community.”

The meetings will kick off Jan. 5 with a community policing roundtable involving major stakeholders in the city. It will be followed by a series of five public meetings, one in each of Cincinnati’s police districts.